Pineiro ready to prove himself again

Right-hander back in AL after shining in NL for 2 1/2 seasons

Despite winning 15 games for the Cardinals last season, Joel Pineiro is taking the attitude that he needs to prove himself all over again now that he's back in the AL with the Angels.

"Maybe I can use that as motivation to prove to people that I can still pitch and help my team out," Pineiro told the Los Angeles Times.

"I'm looking forward to seeing AL hitters again. ... It could be more of a challenge. When the eighth hitter comes up in the NL, the pitcher is on deck, and he'll be bunting. ... But I'm not going to change my game plan -- I will pitch to contact, get ground balls and take it from there."

Pence goes deep twice in Spring Training opener: Hunter Pence hit two home runs and a double to lead the Astros to a 15-5 win over Washington in their Grapefruit League opener Thursday.

Pence, who played only four innings, went 3-for-3 with four RBIs and two runs scored.

"It's a nice start," Pence, who has hit 25 home runs in each of the previous two seasons, told MLB.com. "But it's still Day 1, and there's a long way to go. It felt good today, and maybe I was a little too excited, but what can you say?"

Davis effective as left fielder in opener: Rajai Davis served notice to baserunners in the A's Cactus League debut. Moving to left field, after playing primarily as a center fielder in '09, Davis threw out two runners trying to advance to third.

"He always charges the ball well and throws the ball well," A's manager Bob Geren told the Oakland Tribune. "It's a little shorter throw from left. That could play into his game."

Tejada gets instant action at third base: Miguel Tejada, an All-Star caliber shortstop for most of his career, isn't concerned about his transition to third base this season.

The veteran star fielded his first ground ball cleanly two pitches into his Grapefruit League opener on Wednesday and felt good.

"I told [Jeremy Guthrie], I said 'Hey, this inning, I want the ball, and then I can get everything out of the way,'" Tejada told MLB.com. "I was excited to make that play. I feel kind of like, 'Oh, I can play here.'"

DeRosa continues to rest wrist: Mark DeRosa is being held out of Cactus League games as he continues to build strength in his surgically-repaired wrist. DeRosa has no doubts he'll be ready by Opening Day.

"I think I could play today," DeRosa told the San Francisco Chronicle. "I played with it ruptured all of the second half last year and found a way to minimize the pain and be somewhat productive."

"The wrist sat in a cast for eight weeks," DeRosa said. "I'm just trying to build it up."

Cuddyer gets rave reviews from Morneau: Michael Cuddyer will do just about anything for his team, and that type of dedication doesn't go unnoticed by his Twins teammates.

"The things he does for this baseball team are amazing," teammate Justin Morneau told MLB.com. "He's our best baserunner; he comes to play every day; he's definitely one of the main leaders in this clubhouse; he'll play anywhere you ask him to; he'll do anything you ask him to; and he loves the game.

"He typifies what it means to be a Minnesota Twin."

Kendrick likes his start to 2010 spring season: While trying to earn a spot in the Phillies' starting rotation, Kyle Kendrick pitched two shutout innings on Thursday.

"I think confidence-wise, there's a big difference," Kendrick told MLB.com. "It's totally different. Coming off the year I had in '08, everybody was in the playoffs, and I was down here in the [Instructional League]. I didn't have confidence in my changeup. I didn't know where I was going to be, and I was always looking over my shoulder. I knew I had to go to Triple-A and get better. I'm pretty comfortable with where I'm at."

Helton, Giambi get delayed start to spring: Don't expect to see Todd Helton or Jason Giambi in the Colorado lineup this week during the Rockies' spring games. Manager Jim Tracy told the veteran players that they will not play until next week.

"They will be on a similar program," Tracy told the Denver Post. "They know what it takes to get ready for a season."

Wells happy with first two innings of work: Randy Wells worked two strong innings Thursday in the Cubs' 9-3 win over Oakland.

"We talked before the game about attacking the zone, and I was able to do that today," Wells told MLB.com. "I had a good sinker going. I got some ground-ball outs and got away with a couple pitches, but it's the first start. I'm pretty happy."

Kawakami more comfortable in Year 2: In his second year in camp with the Braves, Kenshin Kawakami is much more relaxed.

"Last year, ... I was looking at every Spring Training game as if it was a regular-season game," Kawakami told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "There was a lot of pressure on me because I was new to the team, new to the States, new to Major League Baseball. There was a lot of pressure to show what kind of stuff I have, what will work over here. After a year where players are comfortable seeing what I have -- even the fans are comfortable seeing what I have -- I can try things out much more."

Sabathia debuts with two scoreless frames: CC Sabathia threw two shutout innings against Philadelphia in his start Thursday but rated his initial spring appearance as "so-so."

"As long as my arm feels good and I'm heading in the right direction," Sabathia told MLB.com. "My delivery was OK, and I'm happy. Results don't start to matter until April 4. That's when I start paying attention."

Cameron anxious to make spring debut: Held out for a couple days with tightness in his groin, Mike Cameron is scheduled to make his first appearance with the Red Sox on Friday.

"Yeah, it's always good to get a chance to go out there," Cameron told MLB.com. "It was pretty cool [the last two days] just to see the guys run out there. It will be even better when I get a chance to go out there and run around and try to get a couple of hits and make a couple of plays and score a couple of runs and try to get out of there healthy."

Smiles or not, Utley having fun at second base: Chase Utley takes his job at second base for the Phillies very seriously, but, yes, he is indeed having a good time.

"I enjoy the competition," Utley told MLB.com. "People often give me a hard time and tell me I don't seem like I'm having a good time out on the field. I am. I enjoy being in that battle. I might not be smiling, but inside, that's what I like to do."

Owings turns attention to his play on the mound: Micah Owings would like his pitching to overshadow his hitting ability this year.

"Up until pro ball, I was always respected as a pitcher and it kind of flipped the script," Owings told MLB.com. "I'm really focusing on what I can do on the mound. The bat is a plus. It's still something I work on, but I'm keying on more pitching-wise."